TITLE:
Electrolytic Cobalt Removal in Wastewater
AUTHORS:
Isabela O. Santos, Isaque C. A. Santos, Leandro V. Pontual, Luciane P. C. Monteiro, Fernando B. Mainier
KEYWORDS:
Cobalt, Electrolytic Removal, Effluents, Contaminations
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.7 No.5,
April
22,
2016
ABSTRACT: Industrial
effluents containing cobalt ions have become a serious problem for the
environment, unless properly treated, due to their toxic potential. Currently
there has been an intensification of the use of cobalt in several industrial
sectors as super alloys, catalysts, batteries and pigments in ceramic
materials, and a consequent intensification also of environmental
contamination. This paper aims to show a simple and effective treatment for the
removal of cobalt ions from simulated industrial wastewater, based on cathodic
eletrolytic removal using a carbon steel screen. As a result, a 73% removal of
cobalt ions from solutions was achieved with a concentration of 400 mg Co2+/L,
a current of 0.30 A and a voltage of 30 V. In the same conditions, 84% and 88%
was removed from 200 mg Co2+/L and 100 mg Co2+/L, respectively. Thus, this
method presents itself as a cheap and efficient alternative for the treatment
of industrial effluents containing cobalt ions.